Aeroplane.



L.B.HOLLAND.

v AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1910.

1,003,605, Patented Sept. 19,1911.

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AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1910. 1,003,605. Patented Sept. 19,1911.

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LEICESTER B. HOLLAND, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Original application filed March 21, 1910, Serial No. 550,560. Divided and. this application filed August 4,

1910. Serial No. 575,466.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEICESTER B. HOL- LAND, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in the supporting means for the aeroplane, and has for an object to pro vide combined skids and running wheels with means for mounting the running wheels so that they may be supported rigidly when positioned for sustaining the aeroplane during the initial starting of the same, which means operates to lift the running wheels entirely above said skids as soon as the weight of the aeroplane is removed from the wheels, whereby in landing the ffirge of impact is received entirely by the s 1 In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention, Figure I, is a perspective view of an aeroplane having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. II, is a side elevation showing a portion of the skids and the running wheels, and in dotted lines the position of the running wheels during flight. Fig. III, is a detail perspective view showing the spring for lifting the running wheels ontirely above the skids. Fig. IV, is a view similar to Fig. III, showing an attachment for moving the supporting wheels against the tension of the spring. Fig. V, is a detail view showing the wheels forced to operative position. Fig. VI, is a detail view showing the locking bolt.

I have herein illustrated an aeroplane of the bi-plane type, which consists of an upper horizontal plane 1, and a lower horizontal plane 2. These planes are formed in the usual manner of a rigid framework, which is covered by a suitable fabric. The planes are spaced and connected together by standards 3, and suitable cross braces 4:. The aeroplane v is also provided with a rearwardly extending frame carrying a tail and rudder 5. Said aeroplane is also provided with a forwardly projecting frame having a horizontal rudder 6.

The construction and arrangement of planes herein shown form no part of the present invention, but are shown described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 550,560, filed March 21st, 1910, of which this application is a division.

In order to support the aeroplane for free running during the initial starting of the same, I have provided a rear wheel 7, and two forward wheels 8, 8. It has been found desirable to use running wheels for the starting of the aeroplane,but said running wheels are not sufficiently strong to withstand the impact in landing. As herein shown, I have provided my aeroplane with the usual frame carrying the skids 9, which may be used in landing, and will act as a brake. The running wheels 8, 8, are mounted on an axle 10, and said axle is carried by arms 11, 11, which are provided with sleeves 12, at their upper ends, journaled on the cross bar 13, secured to the frame. Said arms 11, to gether with the running wheels are free to turn about the cross bar 13, from the position shown in full lines in Fig. II, to the position shown in dotted lines therein. The curved bar 14, carried by the frame is so constructed that the axle 10, is constantly maintained in sliding contact therewith. When the parts are positioned as shown in full lines in Fig. II, the weight of the aeroplane will tend to turn the arms 11, about the cross bar 13, in a clockwise direction, and will bring the axle into contact with the frame, which limits the movement of the arms 11, and forms a rigid support for the running wheels. It will thus be seen that the aeroplane is supported on the running wheels 8, at its forward end, and said wheels are held rigidly as to vertical movement at this time. In order that the running wheels may be thrown to a position above the skids 9, when the aeroplane leaves the ground, I have provided a spring 15, which, as herein shown, is in the form of a spring bar rigidly bolted at 16, to the cross bar 13, with its ends extending underneath the arms 11, 11, which support the running applied to other types of aeroplanes, and

that many minor changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. p

In order that the running wheels may be lowered to operative position, when in flight, I have provided an attachment which may be manipulated by the foot of the operator. Mounted at the ends of the cross bar 13, are collars 25, which carry bearings in which is journaled a rod 17. The rod 17, near each end is provided with arms 18, that are laterally deflected and bear upon the upper faces of the armsll. Said rod 17, centrally thereof, carries an arm 19, which is forked at its outer end. A. foot plate 20, is pivoted in the forked end of the arm 19. By pressing on the foot plate 20, the rod 17, is rotated in its supporting bearings, and the arms 18, will force the arms 11, carrying the running wheels to swing to the position shown in Fig. II.

In order that the running wheels may be locked in operative posit-ion against movement by the spring 15, I have mounted a locking bolt 21, in the rod 17. Said bolt 21, extends through the rod 17, and engages a recess 22, in the cross bar 13, as shown in Fig. VI. The recess is so disposed as tov lock the rod 17, when the wheels are in the position shown in Fig. II, and will hold said wheels in this position, until released.

The locking bolt is normally pressed inwardly by a spring 23. To withdraw the locking bolt I have provided a link 24:, which is connected at one end to said bolt and at its other end to. the foot plate 20. The operator can readily tilt the foot plate and thus control the locking bolt, and when the bolt is released the wheels may be shifted as desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An aeroplane including in combination, skids upon which said aeroplane is adapted to land; running wheel's; means for supporting said running wheels whereby the same may be moved from a point below to a point above the skids; means for positively holding the running wheels with parts thereof projecting below the skids, whereby the aeroplane may be supported on said running wheels; and means for automatically moving the running wheels to a An aeroplane including in combinaadapted to land; running wheels; pivoted arms for supporting said running wheels whereby the same may be moved from a point above to a point below the skids;

.means for rigidly holding said running wheels with parts thereof below the, skids whereby the weight of the aeroplane may rest thereon, and means for swinging said arms to carry the running wheels above the skids when the aeroplane is in flight.

tion, skids upon which said aeroplane is adapted to land; running wheels; pivoted arms for supporting said running wheels whereby the same may be moved from a point above to a point below the skids; means for rigidly holding said running wheels with parts thereof below the skidsv whereby the weight of the aeroplane may rest thereon, and a spring for moving said arms about their pivotal support to carry the running wheels above the skids when the aeroplane is in flight.

4:. An aeroplane including in combination, skids; running wheels; means for supporting the running wheels whereby the same may be moved from a point above to a point below said skids; means for automaticallyraising said wheels above the skids, means under the control of the operator for lowering said running wheels, and means for holding the running wheels with parts thereof beneath the skids, whereby the aeroplane may be supported on said running wheels.

5. An aeroplane including in combination, skids; running wheels; pivoted arms adapted tov support said running wheels whereby, the same may be moved from a point above to a point below the skids;

means under the control of the operator for swinging said arms to raise and lower said running wheels; and means for locking said arms with the running wheels in lowered position.

6. An aeroplane including in combination, skids; running wheels; pivoted arms for supporting said running wheels whereby the same may be moved from a point above to a point below the skids, a spring for swinging said arm to carry the running wheels above the skids; means under the control of the operator for moving said arms to carry portions of the running wheels below the skids, whereby the weight of the aeroplane may rest on said running wheels; and means for locking; said arms with the running wheels in lowered position.

7. An aeroplane including in. combination, skids, running wheels adapted to be moved above and below said skids; a spring for moving said running wheels from besigned my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsylneath the skids; means under the control of Vania, this twenty-second day of July, 1910. the operator for lowering said Wheels; a

locking bolt for securing the running wheels LEICESTER HOLLAND 5 in lowered position, said locking bolt being Witnesses:

under the control of the operator. JAMES H. BELL,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto E. L. FULLERTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, bj addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

